Scottish aquaculture and wellboat service firms merge to form new joint venture

North Isles Marine and Aurora Marine form Ocean Farm Services. The new company has ordered its first service vessel together.

A newly established joint venture company called Ocean Farm Services plans to provide a broader service to the aquaculture industry in the North Sea, according to a press release.

Over the next few months, the two Shetland-based companies, Noth Isles Marine (wellboats) and Aurora Marine (workboats) will merge.

The new company has ordered its first service vessel from Stamas Yard Services, Norway. Marin Design is designing it.

“We are very pleased to sign this first vessel for us as a company. The collaboration between Ocean Farm Services, Marin Design and ourselves has been very productive and we look forward to several joint projects in the future,” said Håkon Rugland, CEO Stamas Yard Services.

The new vessel joins the fleet along with the previously built Aurora Quest, to do mainly net cleaning for salmon farms.

Delivery is scheduled for summer 2019.

“This marks a milestone and a start of an expansive period for us as a company,” said Colin Leask, director of Ocean Farm Services. “The new setup will result in an increased service level and greater reach. More interesting projects are in the pipeline and we are very pleased to sign this first vessel with Stamas Yard Services.”